Con Edison Introduces a Greener Vehicle Fleet

June 24, 2008 – To enhance its commitment to environmental excellence, Con Edison announced today that it is increasing the use of environmentally friendly biodiesel fuel in its truck fleet and expanding its acquisition of "green" vehicles. 

Con Edison’s fleet of about 1,700 diesel trucks is using cleaner-burning B-20 biodiesel fuel, 20 percent of which is derived from soybeans. The soy-based portion of the fuel is a renewable resource that will help the company offset almost 400,000 gallons of petroleum per year. Newer diesel vehicles also will be equipped with special exhaust filters for even cleaner tailpipe emissions.

“Whether reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our own facilities, or promoting green alternatives and energy-savings tips with our customers, Con Edison has been a recognized industry leader in advocating for a cleaner, safer planet,” said Randolph S. Price, vice president for Environment, Health and Safety. “We are committed to mitigating climate change, and will continue to embrace new technologies and progressive corporate policies that embody our pursuit of environmental excellence.”

Among other honors, Con Edison has been recognized by the United Kingdom’s Financial Times and Citi Private Bank with their international award for environmental excellence for improvements in carbon efficiency, achieving a 17-percent reduction in company greenhouse gas emissions between 2005 and 2006.

To further the “greening” of its vehicle fleet, Con Edison plans to replace 50 of its smaller vehicles with hybrid vehicles in 2008 and is working in tandem with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the automotive industry on the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will have the capacity to run on electricity for longer periods, only resorting to petroleum after 60 to 80 miles of travel. They also can be charged from standard electrical outlets.

Through Con Edison’s Research and Development department, the company will continue to explore the possibilities for all-electric vehicles. Most recently, the company began a pilot program with two all-electric field vehicles for inspecting work sites, a program which could result in more widespread use. Driving one of these vehicles 1,000 miles prevents the release of almost 800 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2). That’s equivalent to saving 40 gallons of gasoline, or one barrel of oil, or planting eight trees started from a seed and grown over 10 years.

As one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, Con Edison maintains nearly 130,000 miles of underground and overhead transmission and distribution lines in New York City and Westchester County, and operates a fleet of 4,147 vehicles.

Con Edison’s plan for lower emissions and the use of green vehicles is one of the company’s environmental initiatives described in EnergyNY, the company's recently announced plan to meet the future energy needs of its customers through infrastructure upgrades and energy efficiency programs. EnergyNY can be viewed at www.conEd.com/energyny.